Burner baffle



April 16, 1963 R. E. MURPHY BURNER BAFFLE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed May 26, 1960 INVENTOR R/IYMo/vo E. MURPHY @j MJL/1Q., f ATTORNEY;

l l l United erases Patent @il 3,085,563 BURNER BAFFLE Raymond Edwin Murphy, 919 Smith St., Salisbury, Md. Filed May 26, 1960, Ser. No. 32,092 3 Claims. (Cl. 126-96) This invention relates generally to baffles for burners, and more particularly to ballles for burners of the oil, distillate or gas type used in brooders, space heaters, furnaces, kilns, ovens and the like. In the application I have shown and described the baille in use in a distillate type poultry brooder.

The primary object of this invention is the provision of a baille for burners, which baille is constructed to permit maximum thermal radiation with the exposing of a maximum predetermined area of the burner so that generated infra-red rays generated may be rellected to the area desired, thus providing optimum thermal and infrared heating. Such infra-red heating is particularly irnportant in poultry broeders, wherein lloor drafts may nterrupt thermal heating but will not effect infra-red radiation.

A further object of 'the invention is the provision of a burner baille that will shield the burner, preventing dust and dirt from clogging the burner.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a divided baille for dual burner installations, whereby the burners will be separated by a divider, so that any one or more of the burners may be etllciently operated, and the idleness of any burner or burners will not atleet the efllciency of the burner or burners that are in operation.

Other objects and advantages of this invention will be apparent during the course of the following detailed description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, forming a portion of this specification and in which drawings- FIG. 1 is a side elevation of a poultry brooder, showing my improved baille for multiple burner installations, with parts thereof broken away to disclose preferred details.

FIG. 2 is a horizontal sectional view taken substantially on the line 2--2 of FIG. l.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of my improved multiple burner baille.

FIG. 4 is a view similar to FIG. 1, but showing my improved baflle in use upon a single burner brooder.

FIG. 5 is a perspective View of my improved single burner baille.

In the drawings, wherein for the purpose of illustration is shown a preferred form of the invention, and wherein similar reference characters designate corresponding parts throughout the several views, the letter A may generally designate the brooder, B burners employed in the Abrooder A, C my improved baille for multiple burner installations, and D my improved baille for single burner installations.

The brooder A preferably comprises a base lil, main body portion 12, and canopy 14.

The base preferably includes a plurality of channellike braces 16, 17 and 18, one end of the channels 16 and 17 being secured to the channel 18, with the opposite ends of the channels 16 and 17 provided with height yadjustable legs 20. Channel 18 may extend radially from the base 10 to the fuel supply, alfording protection for the fuel supply pipes for the burners B, as shown in FIG. 2. Any suitable ground engaging support may be provided intermediate the length of channel 1S. The legs 20 thus provide adjustable support for the main body portion of the burner, each leg being individually height adjustable, so that the legs may be adjusted to compensate for an uneven ground surface, thereby levelling the brooder.

3,985,563 Patented Apr. 16, 1963 Supported upon the channel-like members 16, 17 and 18 is a circular pan 23. This pan 23 forms the support for the body portion 12, and also serves to catch any fuel that may drip from the burners.

The body portion 12 preferably comprises a protective screen or gr-ill 25 which may be of any expanded, perforated or mesh type, the same being provided -in order to prevent direct contact with the burners B, by any poultry. The screen 25 is suiliciently foraminous to permit maximum passage of thermal and infra-red rays therethrough. Brackets 27 may be provided upon one end of the screen 25, for securing the same to the pan 23. The uppermost end of the screen 25 is provided with spacedapart plates 30 and 31, which plates form a dead-air space insulation at the top of the body 12, so that a minimum amount vof heat is conducted through the top of the burner, and the infra-red rays will be rellected therefrom to beneath the canopy 14. Central openings 32 and 33 may be provided in the plates 30 and 31, respectively, so that access may be had inside of screen 25 for the ignition of burners B, and a lid 34 having spaced apart plates 36 and 37 in substantial alignment with the plates 30 and 31, respectively, may be provided to cover openings 32 and 33.

Plate 31 is provided with a peripheral flange 40 for securement of the canopy 14 thereto.

The canopy 14 comprises a plurality of individual sections 44, which sections are interconnected in an overlapping relationship and secured to the peripheral flange 4d, to form a continuous canopy entirely about the body 12. The canopy is preferably designed so that the lowermost edge thereof is a maximum of fourteen inches from the floor and a minimum of ten inches therefrom, with the circumference of the canopy varying from fifty-two to seventy-two inches, dependent upon the size of the brooder and the number of burners used.

The burners B may be any standard oil, distillate or gas burner, and in the drawings I have shown a distillate burner. In this type burner a liquid fuel is fed into the burner, which vaporizes the fuel into a gas which burns in virtually complete combustion, so that soot and smoke is at a minimum and a tlue or chimney is unnecessary. In such types of burners it is imperative to retain a proper amount of heat on the base of the burner in order to completely vaporize the liquid fuel, and my improved baffle is designed to retain sufficient heat on the base of the burner to vaporizc the fuel, and yet to permit exposure of a sufficient area of the yburner to provide optimum thermal heat and infra-red radiation therefrom into surrounding areas.

The burners shown in the drawings are Tuyere type vaporizers and each preferably comprises a base 50 having a peripherally extending chamber 51 'for reception of liquid fuel, and a central opening 52 for air ventilation interiorly to the burner. A bracket 53 may be provided to support the base 50 in juxtaposition with respect to the pan 23. A fuel inlet pipe 54 is provided for the introduction of fuel into the receiving chamber 51. An outer ring 55 is supported in the chamber 51, in abutment with the interior of the outermost wall of the base 50, and an inner ring S6 is provided in a spaced-apart position from the ring 55, and supported within the chamber 51. A plate l57 is mounted within the chamber 5'1 and spaces ring 56 from the innermost wall of the chamber 51. A wick 58 is provided intermediate the rings 55 and `56 for initial ignition of the burner. Both the inner ring 56 and the outer ring 55 are provided with a plurality of perforations 60 to provide a proper air -supply for combustion. A cover 62 may be provided about the top of the inner ring 56, which cover 62 has an inner opening 63, but which cover protects the main supply o-f air through the opening 52 from any turbulence or drafts that might be present in the exterior air. In operation, a gravity feed type carburetor, having a thermostatic control (not shown) supplies uids through the pipes 54, which pipes feed the lluid into the respective burner chamber 51. After the initial ignition of the burner, the base portion Si? and the rings 55 and 56 become heated to a degree so that the liquid fuel is vaporized virtually immediately upon introduction into the chamber 51, and the gas produced thereby virtually instantaneously burned. The perforations 6l) in the inner and outer rings provide for a regulated, but complete supply of air both through the primary air vent 52, and also secondarily from exteriorly of the burner, so that combustion of the gas is substantially complete. Proper air circulation about the burners must therefore be provided, and my improved battle is designed to provide such a ventilation, and yet to permit the proper heating of the base and rings for instantaneous vaporization of the liquid fuel, so that the rings 55 and S6 will become heated to an extent where they will glow cherry red, thus emitting thermal and infra-red radiant energy, substantially eliminating improper cooling cycles that may be caused by either drafts or an improper mixture of air, fuel vapor and vapor ratios.

The baie C preferably comprises a body portion 70 of a flattened ovate shape having a plurality of openings 71 thereabout. A divider 74 is mounted substantially centrally of the body portion 7i), dening a pair of charnbers 76 and 77. The bafe C is positioned with one of each of the burners B properly spaced within each chamber 76 and 77, the bale being concentrically mounted within the screen 25 and secured to the pan 23 by brackets 78.

The height of the bathe in relationship to the burners is critical, as is the spacing of the baffle from the burners. The height relationship of the bale to the burners (the burners each including the base t) and rings 55 and 56) is such that more than fty percent and less than sixty percent of the burner is exposed above the top of the baie. In the example shown in FIG. l of the drawings, the lheight of the burners, from the `bottom of the base thereof to the top of the rings, is seven inches, and substantially four inches of the burner is disposed above the baffle. For each additional inch of height of the burner, the bafe height should be increased approximately onehalf inch maintaining 50% to 60% exposure of ring 55. The extension of more than 50% but less than 60% of the burner above the uppermost edge of the batiie provides an exposure of a maximum amount of the burner for infra-red ray radiation, and maintains the burner base at the proper temperature to provide most eicient vaporization of fuel. This baffle also protects the burners from oor drafts and dust.

lThe spacing of the bathe from the burner is also critical in maintaining the base of the burner at the proper temperature and yet assuring sucient air supply. In burners of the type shown the bale main body portion 70 and divider 74 will be spaced from the burners at a distance of not less than one inch and not more than two inches. The spacing of the baie within this range provides for the maintenance of optimum vaporization and infra-red generation ofthe burner.

It is necessary to provide a controlled quantity of air to the base of the burners, and I have therefore provided the openings 71 in the body portion '70. The divider 74 will have no openings for transmission of air from chamber 76 to chamber 77, so that air supply to each burner will be individually controlled. In the baie shown, there have been provided tive openings 71 leading into each chamber 76 and 77, the openings 71 being spaced approximately one and one-half inches from the bottom of the bale. Each opening 71 has a diameter of iive-eighths of an inch and one opening is provided for each inch of the burner based on the circumference of the burner. The size of the opening is likewise varied according to the size of the burner. The iive-eighths opening is based upon the use of a six inch burner sleeve and is to be increased or decreased substantially 10% for each inch variation in the height ofthe burner sleeves.

It is a known fact that dust conditions in poultry houses are usually excessive, dirt, down, etc., being constantly stirred up by the movement of chicks and other natural causes, and the baffle prevents dust from clogging the burners by forming a barrier between the burners and the source of the dust. Only a small amount of dust will enter through the air intake holes of the battle, and such dust will be lifted by the thermal drafts created between the burner and balile and will be consumed lby the burners.

-It will thus be seen, from FIG. 1, that with the burners therein supplied, and the baie plate C positioned therewithin, that thermal and infra-red radiation will be provided from the yburner B to the area surrounding the brooder. These rays will be projected directly from the burners B, and reflected from the canopy 14 and the plate 30.

The provision of the divider 74 in the baflie permits individual regulation of the burners, so that if only a slight amount of heat is required, one of the burners B could be utilized without the other. If the divider 74 were not provided, such individual use of the burners could not be made, inasmuch as the excessive area of the bathe, about the unused burner, would provide an improper degree of heat recction, air intake, and vaporization, so that 4vaporization and combustion of the ignited burner would be ineicient. It is obvious that more than two burners might be provided within any given brooder, providing that each `burner is individually surrounded by a baiile plate or provided with a divider, individually separating the burners within the confines of a chamber of the baffle, so that all or any `combination of the burners may be used.

The brooder of FIG. 4 is substantially identical to that shown in FIG. 1. Minor and inconsequential differences, in contemplation of the use of a single burner, are apparent in this construction, such as the provision of mounting connections and openings for a single `burner and the fact that the diameter of pan 23, screen 25 and the canopy 14 are smaller, and so that this area can be e'ciently heated by a single burner B. In FIG. 4 identical reference characters have therefore been applied to parts corresponding to Ithose of the brooder shown in FIG. 1.

I have found that the suitable diameter for the double burner is nineteen and one-quarter inches, whereas a diameter of fteen inches is suitable 4for the single burner. The lburner B of the single unit is likewise two inches higher than the double burner, but is of the same diameter as the double burner. i

The `batile D for the single burner unit, as shown in FIG. 4, comprises a circular body portion dening a central chamber 536, within which is received the burner B. The plate 85 is provided with a plurality of air openings 88 thereabout, for introduction of an air supply to within the chamber 86 and to the burner B. A plurality of brackets 90 are provided about the body portion 85 for attachment of the bal'le to the pan 23.

The relationship of the battle D to the burner B is the same as with respect to the baille C, with more than 50% and less than 60% of the burner, including the base, exposed above the baiiie D, with the body portion 85 being spaced from the burner B at a distance of not more than two inches and not less than one inch, with a plurality of openings 88 being proportionately provided according to the circumference of the burner, with the diameter of the opening increased or decreased proportionately with respect to baffle C.

While the drawings and description have been drawn to a distillate type of burner, it will be obvious that the same would apply to other forms of liquid and gas burners.

Various changes may be made to the form of the invention herein shown and described without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the following claims.

I claim:

1. A heater including burner means, said burner means being of the type in which fuel is vaporized and burned and including an outer vertically extending elongated perforate member, said elongated perforate member being mounted in juxtaposition with respect to the area of said burner means in which the fuel is -burned to provide dissemination of thermal and infra-red radiation from said burner means; a disc-like pan mounted beneath said burner means; baille means, said baflle means being mounted upon and vertically extendant above said pan and being spaced apart `from an extendant about said burner means in juxtaposition to maintain said burner means at the proper temperature for efllcient vaporization and burning of fuel, the upper reach of said baflle means terminating intermediate the upper and lower reaches of said elongated perforate member in juxtaposition to permit direct radiations from said elongated perforate member while concurrently shielding the same suillciently to enable the development of the high temperature desirable for maximum radiation, said pan being horizontally extendant outwardly beyond said baille means and cooperating with said bame means to form a shield for the protection of said burner means from drafts, dust and the like, and said baille means having air ingress means therethrough, said air ingress means being spaced circumferentially about said baflle means in juxtaposition for providing a horizontal llow of air therethrough to said burner means and being spaced above said pan in juxtaposition to inhibit dust, dirt and the like from being drawn into said burner means; and canopy means mounted above said burner means in juxtaposition with respect thereto for reflection laterally about said burner means of thermal and infra-red rays emanating therefrom.

,2. A heater including burner means, said burner means being of the type in which fuel is vaporized and burned and including an outer elongated perforate member, said elongated perforate member being mounted in juxtaposition with respect to the area of said burner means in which the fuel is burned to provide dissemination of thermal and infra-red radiation lfrom said burner means; a disc-like pan mounted beneath said burner means; baille means, said baille means being mounted upon said' pan and being spaced apart from and extendant about said burner means in juxtaposition to maintain said burner means at the proper temperature for eillcient vaporization and burning of fuel, the upper reach of said baille means terminating intermediate the upper and lower reaches of said elongated perforate member in juxtaposition to permit direct radiations from said elongated perforate member while concurrently shielding the same sufficiently to enable the development of the high temperatures desirable for maximum radiation, said pan being extendant outwardly beyond said baille means and cooperating with said baille means to form a shield for the protection of said burner means from drafts, dust and the like, and said baffle means having air ingress means therethrough, said air ingress means being spaced cir- Cil cumferentially about said baffle means in juxtaposition for providing a radial -ilow of air therethrough to said burner means and being spaced above said pan in juxtaposition to inhibit dust, dirt and the like from being drawn into said burner means; perforate screen means mounted upon said pan, said screen means being circumferentially extendant about and spaced apart from said baflle means; and canopy means mounted above said burner means in juxtaposition with respect thereto for reflection laterally about said burner means and outwardly of said screen means of thermal and infra-red rays emanating from said burner means.

3. A heater including burner means, said burner means being of the type in which fuel is Vaporized and burned and including a base having an outer elongated perforate member mounted thereupon, said elongated perforate member being mounted in juxtaposition with respect to the area of said burner means in which the fuel is burned to provide dissemination of thermal and infra-red radiation from said burner means; a disc-like pan mounted beneath said burner means; baille means, said baille means being mounted upon said pan and being spaced apart from and extendant about said burner means in juxtaposition to maintain said burner means at the proper temperature for efficient evaporization and burning of fuel, the upper reach of said baille means terminating intermediate the upper and lower reaches of said elongated perforate member in juxtaposition to permit direct radiation from said elongated perforate member while concurrently shielding the same suillciently to enable the development of the high temperatures desirable for maximum radiation, said pan and baille means forming a shield to protect said burner means from drafts, dust and the like, and said baille means including a vertically extending body portion having a plurality of openings at spaced intervals for providing a radial flow of air therethrough to said burner means, the openings of said body portion being spaced above said pan in juxtaposition to inhibit dust, dirt and the like from being drawn into said burner means and below the lowermost reach of said elongated per forate member; and canopy means mounted above said burner means in juxtaposition with respect thereto for rellection laterally about said burner means of thermal and infra-red rays emanating therefrom.

References Cited in the ille of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Re. 18,827 Fowler May 9, 1933 617,293 Lannert lan. 3, 1899 812,513 Moreno et al. Feb. 13, 1906 1,447,330 Watson Mar. 6, 1923 1,454,519 Rawls May 1, 1923 1,607,175 Seifert Nov. 16, 1926 1,749,990 Tolley Mar. 11, 1930 1,872,396 Bourbonnais Aug. 16, 1932 1,875,032 Landgraf et al. Aug. 30, 1932 1,924,207 Hartung Aug. .29, 1933 2,224,842 Selby Dec. 10, 1940 2,855,030 Richards Oct. 7, 1958 2,923,274 Landgraf et al. Feb. 2, 1960 

1. A HEATER INCLUDING BURNER MEANS, SAID BURNER MEANS BEING OF THE TYPE IN WHICH FUEL IS VAPORIZED AND BURNED AND INCLUDING AN OUTER VERTICALLY EXTENDING ELONGATED PERFORATE MEMBER, SAID ELONGATED PERFORATE MEMBER BEING MOUNTED IN JUXTAPOSITION WITH RESPECT TO THE AREA OF SAID BURNER MEANS IN WHICH THE FUEL IS BURNED TO PROVIDE DISSEMINATION OF THERMAL AND INFRA-RED RADIATION FROM SAID BURNER MEANS; A DISC-LIKE PAN MOUNTED BENEATH SAID BURNER MEANS; BAFFLE MEANS, SAID BAFFLE MEANS BEING MOUNTED UPON AND VERTICALLY EXTENDANT ABOVE SAID PAN AND BEING SPACED APART FROM AN EXTENDANT ABOUT SAID BURNER MEANS IN JUXTAPOSITION TO MAINTAIN SAID BURNER MEANS AT THE PROPER TEMPERATURE FOR EFFICIENT VAPORIZATION AND BURNING OF FUEL, THE UPPER REACH OF SAID BAFFLE MEANS TERMINATING INTERMEDIATE THE UPPER AND LOWER REACHES OF SAID ELONGATED PERFORATE MEMBER IN JUXTAPOSITION TO PERMIT DIRECT RADIATIONS FROM SAID ELONGATED PERFORATE MEMBER WHILE CONCURRENTLY SHIELDING THE SAME SUFFICIENTLY TO ENABLE THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE HIGH TEMPERATURE DESIRABLE FOR MAXIMUM RADIATION, SAID PAN BEING HORIZONTALLY EXTENDANT OUTWARDLY BEYOND SAID BAFFLE MEANS AND COOPERATING WITH SAID BAFFLE MEANS TO FORM A SHIELD FOR THE PROTECTION OF SAID BURNER MEANS FROM DRAFTS, DUST AND THE LIKE, AND SAID BAFFLE MEANS HAVING AIR INGRESS MEANS THERETHROUGH, SAID AIR INGRESS MEANS BEING SPACED CIRCUMFERENTIALLY ABOUT SAID BAFFLE MEANS IN JUXTAPOSITION FOR PROVIDING A HORIZONTAL FLOW OF AIR THERETHROUGH TO SAID BURNER MEANS AND BEING SPACED ABOVE SAID PAN IN JUXTAPOSITION TO INHIBIT DUST, DIRT AND THE LIKE FROM BEING DRAWN INTO SAID BURNER MEANS; AND CANOPY MEANS MOUNTED ABOVE SAID BURNER MEANS IN JUXTAPOSITION WITH RESPECT THERETO FOR REFLECTION LATERALLY ABOUT SAID BURNER MEANS OF THERMAL AND INFRA-RED RAYS EMANATING THEREFROM. 